Nutrition

It's almost Epiphany...the day we usually take down the tree and pack all the glitter away for another year. There's often a quiet sadness that accompanies this time of year. The parties are over, the gifts have all been opened, and even the singing has stopped...at least for a while. For many of us, however, our bodies are saying "Thank goodness for that"! The rich foods, abundance of chocolate, wine and eggnog definitely take their toll! Well I have the perfect recipe to help rejuvenate, invigorate and re-awaken our sleepy systems. "winter Citrus Salad" (adapted from Angela Liddon's Oh she glows vegan cookbook). I tried it out at our Oncology Christmas party where it received rave reviews! Serve it tomorrow evening after dinner to lighten your heart and your body as you put away the festive decorations until next year.

Winter Citrus Salad

Ingredients:

2 red grapefruit

4 navel oranges

4 blood oranges

3 Tbs (45 ml) natural cane sugar

3-4 Tbs Pomegranate seeds

4 Tbs (60 ml) lightly toasted almond slices

4 Tbs fresh mint leaves plus a few extra for serving.

Segment the grapefruit and oranges:

Slice off the top and bottom of the fruit so the inner flesh is exposed. With a sharp pairing knife remove the peel and pith and cut the segments out from between the membranes. Place the segments on a serving plate.

In a food processor, process the sugar and mint leaves together until it looks like green sugar. Sprinkle over the citrus segments and toss lightly. Sprinkle toasted almonds and pomegranate seeds on top and add a few mint leaves as garnish.

Most of us know the story...three kings came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, but have you ever wondered just what frankincense and myrrh are? As a child, I thought myrrh was dish soap! My mother always purchased "Mir" probably because it was one of the least expensive available. I could never understand why a king would bring such a thing. I finally took the time to look them up.

It turns out that Frankincense and Myrrh are both aromatic tree resins and have been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine.

The bark of the Frankincense or Myrrh tree is slashed allowing the resin to bleed out and harden. These hardened resins are called tears. The trees start producing resin when they are about eight to 10 years old. Recent studies have indicated that frankincense tree populations are declining, partly due to over-exploitation.

While Frankincense is used in perfumery aromatherapy, and occasionally as an ingredient in skincare lotions, myrrh is used as an antiseptic in mouthwash, gargles, and toothpastes. As for their use as a medicine for a multitude of ailments, there is still not sufficient evidence of safety or efficacy to support it's use.

That said, my favourite gifts are almost always those I can eat. They're fun to make, they don't have to fit, they don't gather dust, and they're usually delicious!!

Place nuts in a medium size bowl. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until just warm. Add rosemary and thyme and stir until aromatic (about 1 minute). Remove pan from heat and stir in cumin and cayenne pepper. Pour the flavoured oil over the nuts and stir to coat evenly. Sprinkle with sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir again. Transfer to an edged cookie sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes, stirring after the first 10 minutes. Let cool. Pour into clear glass jars, wrap with a ribbon and Voila!!! The perfect gift...delicious sprinkled in salad, easily packed away for an energy boost while skiing or enjoyed in front of the fire with your loved one. Enjoy...and Happy Holidays!